Robert Downey Jr.’s production company Team Downey and Warner Bros. have approached Oscar nominated writer Terry Rossio(Pirates of the Caribbean) to pen Yucatan. But what is Yucatan? Well the story behind the story may be as enticing as the movie itself as the idea of the script comes from none other than legendary American actor Steve McQueen. The script for the modern Yucatan will be based on a 1700-page project written by the famous actor in the late 1960s. The original script was McQueen’s brainchild as it was supposed to be another film in which he would star but now it seems that Robert Downey Jr. will take over the reins.
According to Deadline, the script was found in two leather-bound trunks after Steve McQueen’s death. The plot revolves around a renegade salvage expert as he searches the Yucatan Peninsula for Mayan treasure. Think about this. Robert Downey Jr. already is Hollywood’s sweetheart thanks to his portrayal of Tony Stark aka Iron Man.Mix that up with an already great script tweaked a bit by Rossio and you could have the next Indiana Jones or Pirates of the Carribean. The project was originally an action-adventure but now it will be re-envisioned as a “mind-bending adventure story.”
Robert Downey Jr. had only praise for the Oscar nominated writer as he thinks Rossio is exactly what he’s looking for. ” To imbue a McQueen project with a sense of how he might have made it nowadays is a challenge and a thrill. Rossio is more than a great writer. He’s the perfect fit to embrace the existential nature of the project with the action, story and characters that drive Yucatan.” The project is still in development as no director is currently attached to Yucatan at the moment.Steve McQueen’s son, Chad McQueen will executive produce alongside with Lance Sloane(Act of Valor).Jon Berg and Jon Gonda from Warner Bros. will be overseeing the project. It’s not easy making a movie with a distinct atmosphere nowadays and yet there is always one that breaks the rule over and over again.If Robert Downey Jr. is involved then a fun ride we will surely get.